Apple has not approached us for India manufacturing unit: Nirmala Sitharaman

Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said Apple did not make any proposal to set up a manufacturing unit in India.TNN | September 19, 2016, 14:07 IST

Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said Apple did not make any proposal to set up a manufacturing unit in India.

Although Apple has been keen on opening its own stores, the policy requirement of mandatory sourcing of 30% of the goods from within the country proved to be a major hurdle since the market does not have vendors to meet its needs.

Following a change in the policy last November, Apple has decided to seek government nod as the sourcing norms can now be waived for 'state-of-the-art' and 'cutting-edge technology'.

Apple have reportedly been in talks with Foxconn on the possibility of manufacturing iPhone models at their facilities in India.

After meeting senior officials from manufacturing giant Foxconn, partner of Apple, the then telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in May had said the Cupertino-based technology major was coming to manufacture iPhones in India.

"They have not approached us and therefore we are silent," Sitharaman said on Sunday.

Asked about a letter written to Xiaomi, Chinese mobile phone maker, seeking waiver of 30% sourcing norms, Sitharaman said, "I have no idea. If there is something I will let know."

She also denied having any information on 'LeEco's' request to waive 30% sourcing norms. Her ministry has recommended the ministry of finance to raise tax holiday for start-ups from three years to seven with a sense of constructive and positive approach, and was awaiting a response. pti